Safety first
Electrical emergencies can cause fires and injuries. Before calling anyone:
- If there is smoke or fire, leave the house and call 911.
- If a power line is down, stay far away from it and anything it touches, and call the utility and 911. Assume every downed line is live.
- If an outlet, switch or panel is sparking, smoking or smells hot, switch off that circuit or the main breaker if you can do so without touching anything wet or standing in water. Otherwise, leave it alone and get help.
- If someone has been shocked, don't touch them while they may still be in contact with the source. Shut off power if you can, then call 911.
- If water is near electrical equipment, don't enter the area. Have the power shut off first.
Which problems can't wait
Call for emergency service if you have a burning smell from outlets or the panel, outlets or switches that are hot or sparking, a breaker that trips immediately every time it's reset, lights throughout the house that flicker or surge, a partial outage where some circuits are dead and others are bright or dim, or damage to the service wires or meter after a storm or accident.
A partial outage where lights are unusually bright in some rooms and dim in others can point to a lost neutral connection, which can damage appliances and electronics. Turn off sensitive equipment and call promptly.
First check: is it the utility?
If the whole neighborhood is dark, it's a utility outage. Check the utility's outage map or call them. If only your house is out, check whether the main breaker has tripped. If some circuits are out, check the panel for tripped breakers and reset one once. If it trips again right away, leave it off and call an electrician.
Storm and accident damage
Wind, falling trees, ice and vehicles can damage the service drop, the mast where wires attach to the house, or the meter base. The utility is responsible for some of this equipment and the homeowner for the rest. Generally, an electrician must repair the homeowner's side, the work must be inspected, and only then will the utility reconnect. Ask the electrician to explain who handles what.
Generators
Never connect a portable generator to house wiring by plugging it into an outlet. Backfeeding can electrocute utility workers and neighbors, and can damage the generator and your home's wiring. A properly installed transfer switch or interlock lets you power selected circuits safely. Run generators outdoors, well away from windows, doors and vents, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
What to expect from an emergency call
Emergency and after-hours calls usually cost more. The electrician's first job is to make the situation safe. That may mean disconnecting a circuit until a permanent repair can be scheduled. Ask for the price of the emergency visit before they start, and a separate written price for any permanent repair.
Questions to ask
- Is the house safe to stay in tonight?
- What failed, and what caused it?
- Is this a temporary or permanent fix?
- Will the repair need a permit and inspection before the utility reconnects?
- Is there anything else in the system that could fail the same way?
After the emergency
Once the immediate danger is handled, ask for a written summary of what failed and what was done. If a temporary fix was made, schedule the permanent repair promptly, and keep the paperwork with your house records for insurance.